BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Locals are grateful to the Federal Government for abolishing the RM3.60 toll fare at the Bukit Kayu Hitam border checkpoint effective from midnight.
Local motorists and traders thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for responding to their plea by removing the toll collection.
Kubang Pasu Consumer Movement chairman Rodhi Md Rejab described the move as the best New Year’s gift for the 300-odd local workers at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
He said the news, announced by Najib when tabling the 2018 Budget in October, was better than what they had hoped for.
"We have been carrying the voice of some 300 local workers from various sectors near the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam.
"For more than a decade, they have been appealing to the Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Bhd (Plus) to review the RM3.60 toll rate, which is a burden for them as they are mostly low-income and middle-income earners," he said.
Rodhi said they had felt that it was unfair for Plus to charge them RM3.60 for a mere 1.3km stretch.
"Imagine the situation for a man working at the nearby golf course and his wife who works at the Duty Free Complex near the ICQS Complex.
"They will have to pay RM3.60 to drive out for lunch as there is no eateries in the area and another RM3.60 when going home after work," he said.
Rodhi said the RM3.60 fare for the 1.3km was too steep compared to the toll charges in other locations on the expressway.
As an example, he said motorists were only charged RM1.60 for over 30km stretch after the Bukit Kayu Hitam toll plaza.
"The workers feel that the toll charges are costly as they pay daily unlike tourists who only pass through the checkpoint occasionally," he said.
Rodhi said many local non-governmental organisations had been appealing to the government to review the fare for the past one decade.
"Ever since the prime minister made the announcement, many workers from the area have expressed their gratitude.
"They were hoping for the toll fare to be reviewed but it was a bonus when the prime minister announced the removal of the toll payment," he said.
Meanwhile, a trader who only wished to be identified as Chan said this would to reduce the cost of doing business.
"I cross the border at least twice a day to collect and deliver supply between Bukit Kayu Hitam and Dannok across the border.
"I am thankful to the government and prime minister for listening to our plea," he said.
It was reported that Najib had announced that toll collection at several toll plazas in Selangor, Johor and Kedah would be abolished from Jan 1.